Fountain clock



G. A. CROCKETT FOUNTAIN CLOCK April 29, 1952 5 Sheet-Sheet 1 Filed May 4, 1949 imin G. A. CROCKETT FOUNTAIN CLOCK A ril 29, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 4, 1949 w W Z M r y 1 R. B\ Q 7W m G4 w w 8 Q m m E a 4 5% w W m N V 9 2 U l h x mum @E mm 1 Q MS 7 m S R M A U -lll.

W I I II IH MH H I I H H HIM H m \k 0 w \m April 29, 1.952 G. A. CROCKETT FOUNTAIN CLOCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 4, 1949 I Patented Apr. 29, 1 952 UNITED FOUNTAIN GLQCK Geoffrey Albert Crockett, London, England;

Application May; 4, 1949, Serial No. 91,249. In Great Britain May 6, 1948 Claims. (01. es -.2);

This, invention relates to clocks and has: forits subject a; clock in which the hour and minute hands; arev formed by water jets of different lengt According to the present invention a clock is provided with a stand pipe at the upper end with two separate domes, driven by a clock mechanism so that one makes one revolution in one hour and the other one revolution in twelve or twenty-four hours, water being supplied to the two domes from the stand pipe and being projected from the domes in jets which represent the hour and minute hands, the jet representing the hour hand being shorter than that representing the minute hand, the stand pipe being mounted centrally of a basin adapted to contain water or other liquid.

The jets are preferably spot-lighted in different colours.

The liquid is preferably supplied to the stand pipe by a pump and overflow being provided in the basin for returning the overflow water to the pump.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a clock according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the clock shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a diagram of the water flow to the various jets.

Fig. 4 shows a view identical to that of Fig. 2 except that the hour markings are in a twentyfour hour period.

As shown in the drawings, a basin I of circular shape is provided with a central hollow boss 2 and with an upstanding peripheral rim 3 which is preferably inclined upwardly and outwardly. On the rim 3 are marked the hour divisions 4 and preferably also minute divisions 5.

The basin may be constructed of any suitable material such as concrete, marble or stone.

In the body of the boss 2 is preferably located an overflow pipe '5 which may lead to a storage tank (not shown) to which is connected the suction side of a pump 6.

As shown the overflow 5 is connected directly to the pump 6.

In the boss 2 is mounted a vertical sleeve I provided at its upper and lower ends with bearings 8, 9 in which is rotatably mounted, preferably in spaced relation to the sleeve, a tube In on the upper end of which is mounted a dome II, hereinafter referred to as the hour dome. On the tube III, below the lower bearing 9, is provided'fa sprocket or other gear wheel I2, secured tojthe tube I0, driven by a. clockwork mechanismllt through elements 'I2a and I8a, the mechanism I3and the elements I2a and I3a being of any well-known kind such as disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 1,524,178, dated January 27, 1925, and which are shown in diagrammatic form only so that the tube I0 makes one revolution in twelve hours. It may, however, be driven so as to make one revolution in twenty-four hours in the case when the numerals 4 are arranged for a twenty-four hour clock.

Centrally of the tube Ill and in spaced relation thereto is located a vertical stand pipe I4 on the upper end of which is mounted a second dome I5, hereinafter referred to as the minute dome.

The lower end of the stand pipe I4 is mounted in a gland I6 in a footstep bearing II.

On the stand pipe I4 is provided a sprocket or other gear wheel I8 for driving the stand pipe I4 by clockwork mechanism (not shown) or the clockwork mechanism I3 so that it makes one revolution per hour.

The lower end of the stand pipe I4 inside the footstep bearing IT is provided with one or more openings I9 so that liquid, such as water, can be supplied to the stand pipe I4 at the lower end thereof by the pump 6 through the pipe 20.

The upper end of the stand pipe I4 passes centrally through the hour dome I I where it is provided with one or more openings 2I by means of which it communicates with the interior of the hour dome I4.

The upper end of the stand pipe I4 opens into the minute dome I5.

Suitable glands or stuffing boxes 22 are provided between the stand pipe I4 and the tube I0 and hour dome II.

In each of the domes II, I5 is provided a screened, preferably adjustable jet 23, 24 respectively.

Behind each jet 23, 24 is mounted a spot-light 25, 26. The spot-lights may be of different colours for the minute and hour domes I5, I I.

The wiring 28 for the spotlights 24, 25 preferably passes through the tubes I4 and II).

A drip trap 29 may be provided below the lower end of the tube I4.

Water jets may pass from the periphery of the basin centrally below the hours 4 as indicated at 21.

If desired a further dome may be provided which may complete a revolution in a minute and serves to indicate seconds.

I claim:

1. A clock comprising a basin adapted to contain a liquid, a standpipe mounted centrally of the said basin, two separate rotatable domes, which domes are located on the upper end of and communicate with the said standpipe, a clock mechanism for driving the said domes, one of the domes making one revolution in one hour and the other dome making one revolution in a period which is an arithmetic factor of twenty-four hours, a jet orifice provided in each of said domes, means for supplying liquid under pressure through the standpipe to the said domes from which it is projected through the said jets to form liquid jets which fall into the said basin, and means to enable the length of the liquid jets to be adjusted. 2. A clock as claimed in claim 1, wherein a spotlight is provided in each dome and is arranged so as to illuminate the liquid jets, the 20 4 plying liquid under pressure to the said standpipe, and an overflow pipe connected between the said basin and the pump.

4. A clock as claimed in claim 1, comprisin adjusting means on each jet for adjusting the diameter of the orifice therein to constitute the means for enabling the lengths of the liquid jets to be adjusted.

5. A clock as claimed in claim 1, comprising numeral markings on the periphery of the said basin to represent minutes and hours.

GEOFFREY ALBERT CROCKETT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 679,103 Blumle July 23, 1901 1,255,711 Crane Feb. 5, 1918 1,575,952 Todd Mar. 9, 1926 1,847,129 Miller Mar. 11, 1932 

